Peshawar region has been the nerve centre of the Muslim Empire in the Sub-Continent. Great leaders of men in arms, administrators, statesmen, poets, mystics, leaders of religious thought, artists and architects born and bred in this area have distinguished themselves in our history. With the break-up of the empire and loss of independence, this area languished in the back waters and except for a fortunate few,

who exchanged conscience for gold, the community fell a prey to local feuds, decay of education and economic backwardness. In the struggle for revival and rehabilitation we lagged behind other areas and consequently our progress in economic development and education is only a recent story, most of it relating to the post-independence era. In order to make up for this inherited loss and to bring this region on a par with other parts of the country, intensive and extensive efforts are necessary to improve both the quality as well as the quantity of the products of our educational institutions. Most of the Mardan Division lies on the historic international route from Kabul to the Sub Continent, passing though Kunhar, Bajaur, Swat and Buner; the route followed by Alexander and other conquerors from the North-West. During the Greek and early Mauryan period this devision became the cultural capital of the successive kingdoms of Gandhara. When Fahian and Hieum Tsang, passed through this area, it was bedecked with centres of learning, art and culture of a cosmopolitan nature deriving equal inspiration from eastern and western traditions of art and culture. From 986 A.D. this area came under the rule of the Sultans of Ghazni, Ghour and the Mughal Emperors. During the reign of Aurangzeb, a struggle started for reconstitution, rehabililtation and autonomous development under the inspiring leadership of Khushal Khan Khattak. His poems even today warm the hearts and ring in the ears of the people of Mardan and Baizai. After a short spell of independence, the area fell a prey to internal dissension and civil strife in the Afghan kingdom and in 1818; it was over-run by Sikh expansion followed by the British conquest. In 1831, a glorious attempt for freedom was made under the leadership of Syed Ahmad Shaheed but due to tribal rivalries, the movement could not make any appreciable head-way. However, it did play an important role in popularising the political ideas of Islamic equality and social justice. During events of 1857 the 55th Infantry in these areas rose up in arms against the British but was put down with a heavy hand by General Nicholson and pushed into the wilderness of Malakand. The movement for freedom hereafter continued from the valleys and hill tops of the tribal belt till independence in 1947. It was in 1937 that Mardan was constituted into a separate district and in 1988 it was declared a division of the North West Frontier Province. Since then education, health and industry have made head way in bringing about a change in the life and outlook of the people of these areas. Their motivation and endeavour for a better life through education and economic development is very effective reflected in the response from the Government.

Mardan division in common with other regions of the NWFP is playing today a leading role in industrial and agricultural advancement of the Province and because of its situation, can very usefully serve vast areas extending into Jadoon, Chitral and Malakand mountains for useful employment and for quality education.

In our efforts to regain our place of prominence in national life, it is very necessary to bring education to the door steps of villagers. It is equally vital to promote programmes of intensive training to generate competitive ability as well as to provide talented leadership in science, technology, culture, trade and commerce, business and industry for a better life of the people in this region. This objective lends support and meaning to our efforts for creating this College for quality education. It will serve also as a model for our rural schools in N.W.F.P and other developing regions of Pakistan.